If My Sump Pump Fails, Will Insurance Cover It?

Home Insurers Offer Options for Flooded Basements.

Homeowner’s insurance providers offer many options when considering the unique needs of your home and family. In fact, when it comes to flooded basements and water damage risks, the discussion can go beyond whether or not your home is located on a flood plain.

For example, many homes today have sump pumps in their basements. The pump is installed below the surface of the basement in order to pump excess moisture and water away from the home. It is often installed in homes that are in low-lying areas, have clay soils or are prone to heavy rains. One of the flood risks during a storm is if your home loses electricity to power the sump pump. If you don’t have a back-up generator or back-up battery and alarm to alert you to sump pump failure, the excess water can eventually back up into your basement.

Your homeowner’s insurance policy may not currently cover damage due to sump pump failure. Your provider can add a rider or endorsement to your current policy to cover certain sump-pump related flooding or water damage. Any claims will be dependent on showing that the sump pump was in good working order and not clogged by any debris at the time of failure.

Keep in mind that flood insurance is likely also a separate policy from a homeowner’s policy. With a flood damage policy, you may also elect for additional coverage on possessions lost due to a flood.

Talk to your insurance provider about your options when protecting your home and possessions from flooding and water damage. If an event occurs, make sure to use a preferred vendor for water damage restoration like Clean Response. We can help you provide fair damage estimates and support insurance claims. For more information, visit our flooded basement cleanup page.

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